BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2: Online Skills Development Programme 2026 – Registration, Benefits and Application Deadline

The International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) is organizing the BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2: Advancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Skills Development, Skills Mapping and Lifelong Learning from 9 to 27 November 2026. This online knowledge-sharing programme will bring together policymakers, skills development institutions, employers’ and workers’ representatives, International Labour Organization (ILO) specialists, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and explore practical solutions for the future of work.

The programme supports the 2026 Indian BRICS Presidency and seeks to strengthen cooperation between BRICS countries and the wider Global South on skills development, vocational education, skills intelligence, and lifelong learning. It will also encourage connections between BRICS priorities and relevant G20 discussions and initiatives.

Delivered in English through three interactive online webinars, the series will explore how countries can anticipate emerging skills needs, improve technical and vocational education and training, strengthen partnerships between training institutions and industry, and expand access to lifelong learning. Participants will have opportunities to examine policy approaches, learn from experiences across countries, and identify practical opportunities for South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

The programme is scheduled for 9–27 November 2026, with an application deadline of 16 November 2026. The published participation price is €220. Interested professionals and institutions should review the official event page and registration system for the complete participation conditions and registration instructions.

BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2: Programme Overview

The BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2 is an international online learning and knowledge-exchange initiative focused on skills for the future. It responds to changes in labour markets caused by technological development, artificial intelligence, digitalization, demographic change, and the transition towards greener economies.

These transformations are changing the types of skills that employers require and creating new challenges for governments, education providers, enterprises, workers, and employment services. Countries need effective ways to identify emerging occupations, prepare workers for new opportunities, improve vocational training, and ensure that people can continue learning throughout their working lives.

The knowledge series provides a platform for discussing these issues through international cooperation. Rather than focusing exclusively on one country’s experience, it encourages participants to compare policies and institutional approaches across BRICS countries and other countries in the Global South.

Key programme details

• Programme title: BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2
• Theme: Advancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Skills Development, Skills Mapping and Lifelong Learning
• Organizers: ILO Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO)
• Dates: 9–27 November 2026
• Format: Online
• Language: English
• Application deadline: 16 November 2026
• Participation fee: €220
• Main areas of focus: Skills intelligence, emerging occupations, technical and vocational education and training, industry partnerships, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, recognition of prior learning, qualifications frameworks, and inclusive employability
• Official event page: https://www.itcilo.org/events/brics-south-south-knowledge-series-2
• Registration link: https://oarf2.itcilo.org/DSB/E9719957/en

The programme is structured around three interactive webinars. Each session will address a different aspect of skills development and encourage participants to identify practices that can be adapted to their own countries and institutions.

Why Is the BRICS South-South Knowledge Series Important?

Skills development has become an increasingly important issue for countries seeking sustainable economic growth, inclusive employment, and stronger workforce productivity. The rapid development of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and environmentally sustainable industries is changing how people work and the capabilities that employers need.

At the same time, many countries face persistent skills mismatches. Education and training systems may not always prepare graduates for available jobs, while workers in changing industries may need new qualifications or opportunities to update their existing skills. Young people, women, informal economy workers, and other groups can face additional barriers to accessing quality training and decent employment.

The BRICS South-South Knowledge Series addresses these challenges by facilitating knowledge exchange between institutions, policymakers, technical experts, and practitioners.

1. Responding to technological change

Artificial intelligence and digitalization are changing occupations across industries. Some jobs are evolving, some tasks are becoming automated, and new roles are emerging. These developments create a need for better skills forecasting and more responsive training systems.

The series will explore how countries identify changing skills requirements and how their institutions can use labour market information to prepare workers for future opportunities.

2. Supporting the green transition

The transition to more sustainable economies is creating new skills requirements in areas connected to environmental protection, clean technologies, energy, and sustainable production.

Skills intelligence and occupational mapping can help policymakers and training institutions identify the competencies needed for emerging green occupations. Sharing approaches across countries can help institutions understand how to incorporate these needs into training programmes.

3. Improving vocational education and training

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) can help people develop practical, employment-related skills. Its effectiveness often depends on the relationship between training institutions and employers.

The programme will examine approaches to improving vocational education, apprenticeships, enterprise partnerships, and entrepreneurship. It will also explore how cooperation between institutions can support training systems during technological and economic transformation.

4. Expanding lifelong learning opportunities

Workers increasingly need opportunities to develop new competencies throughout their careers. Lifelong learning can help people adapt to changing occupations, improve their employability, and remain productive as industries evolve.

The series will explore approaches to making skills development more accessible, including the recognition of prior learning and the development of inclusive training pathways.

5. Strengthening international cooperation

Countries do not need to address every skills challenge independently. Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, institutions can exchange practical knowledge, compare approaches, establish partnerships, and adapt relevant experiences to their own national circumstances.

The series aims to support these exchanges and identify areas where institutions can continue cooperating after the webinars.

Understanding South-South and Triangular Cooperation

South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) is an approach to international development cooperation that supports knowledge exchange, collaboration, and mutual learning among developing countries, with the involvement of additional partners where appropriate.

In the context of skills development, SSTC can help countries and institutions share experience in areas such as vocational education, skills forecasting, workforce development, qualifications recognition, and employment policy.

The approach recognizes that countries can learn from one another’s practical experiences. A solution developed in one national context may provide useful lessons for another country facing similar challenges, although it may need to be adapted to local institutions, labour markets, resources, and policy priorities.

The BRICS South-South Knowledge Series will use this approach to encourage dialogue among participants from BRICS countries and the wider Global South.

The programme is also intended to support cooperation between institutions rather than simply provide isolated presentations. Through facilitated discussions and peer learning, participants can explore how practices might be adapted and where further institutional collaboration could be useful.

BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2: The Three Webinar Sessions

The programme consists of three interactive webinars addressing different dimensions of skills development. Together, the sessions cover anticipating future skills needs, strengthening training systems and industry partnerships, and creating more inclusive lifelong learning opportunities.

Webinar 1: South-South Skills Intelligence — Anticipating Future Skills and Emerging Occupations

The first webinar will focus on how countries anticipate changing skills requirements and identify emerging occupations. As labour markets evolve, policymakers and training institutions need reliable information about the knowledge and competencies that workers will require in the future.

Skills intelligence includes the collection, interpretation, and use of information about labour market trends, occupational changes, employer requirements, and training needs. Skills forecasting and occupational mapping can help decision-makers identify emerging priorities and make better-informed decisions about education, vocational training, and employment policy.

The session will examine how BRICS countries approach these issues, with particular attention to digital, green, and care sectors.

Key areas of discussion

• Labour market intelligence and the identification of changing skills needs.
• Methods for forecasting future skills requirements.
• Occupational mapping and the identification of emerging occupations.
• Skills needs in digital industries and technology-related employment.
• Skills requirements associated with the green transition.
• Workforce and skills needs in care-related occupations.
• Institutional arrangements and data systems that support skills planning.
• Opportunities for sharing skills information and methodologies between countries.

The session will also examine an India-funded ILO initiative concerning an international reference classification of occupations. The discussion will consider its potential contribution to comparability of skills and occupations and to cooperation between countries.

Greater comparability can help institutions understand how occupations and skills are described in different national systems. This can support knowledge exchange and help policymakers identify common challenges, while recognizing that national labour markets and occupational structures may differ.

Why this webinar matters

Skills intelligence can help governments and training providers respond more effectively to labour market changes. When institutions have a clearer understanding of emerging occupations and employers’ requirements, they can better identify training priorities and potential skills gaps.

For professionals working in labour market research, employment policy, vocational training, and workforce development, this webinar offers an opportunity to explore how different countries approach skills forecasting and occupational mapping.

Webinar 2: South-South Partnerships for Skills Transformation — TVET, Industry and Entrepreneurship

The second webinar will examine how technical and vocational education and training systems can respond to economic transformation through stronger cooperation between training institutions and enterprises.

Vocational education can provide learners with practical skills for specific occupations and industries. However, training programmes need to remain relevant as technologies, business models, and workplace requirements change. Partnerships between education providers and employers can help connect training content with real employment needs.

This session will draw on experiences from BRICS institutions and the wider Global South to explore approaches to vocational training, apprenticeships, industry partnerships, entrepreneurship, and institutional cooperation.

Key areas of discussion

• Innovative approaches to technical and vocational education and training.
• Apprenticeships and work-based learning.
• Partnerships between training institutions and enterprises.
• Cooperation between educational institutions and industry representatives.
• Skills development for technological transformation.
• The relationship between skills, productivity, and economic competitiveness.
• Entrepreneurship education and support for business development.
• Skills development for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
• Opportunities for institution-to-institution cooperation through SSTC.

The webinar will consider how South-South cooperation can help institutions exchange approaches to designing and delivering vocational training. Participants will be able to examine how different institutional models connect learning with the needs of workers, enterprises, and local economies.

Why this webinar matters

Training systems can be more responsive when they maintain effective relationships with employers and understand how occupations are changing. Apprenticeships, industry partnerships, and work-based learning can help learners develop practical experience alongside technical knowledge.

The discussion will be relevant to policymakers, TVET institutions, employer organizations, training practitioners, and other professionals working to strengthen workforce development.

It will also explore the relationship between skills development and entrepreneurship, particularly the need for practical competencies that can help small businesses adapt to technological changes and improve productivity.

Webinar 3: South-South Pathways to Lifelong Learning — Skills Recognition and Inclusive Employability

The third webinar will focus on lifelong learning and the importance of making skills development accessible throughout working life.

People develop skills in many different settings, including formal education, vocational training, employment, community activities, and informal work. However, skills gained outside traditional educational institutions may not always be formally recognized. This can create barriers for people seeking employment, career progression, or further training.

The session will explore how countries can expand access to skills development and improve the recognition of existing competencies.

Key areas of discussion

• Lifelong learning policies and opportunities.
• Recognition of prior learning.
• Qualifications frameworks and the recognition of competencies.
• Inclusive training pathways for workers with different educational backgrounds.
• Skills development for young people and women.
• Training access for workers in the informal economy.
• Inclusive employability and opportunities for career progression.
• South-South and Triangular Cooperation between skills development institutions.

The webinar will consider how recognition of prior learning can help people demonstrate competencies acquired through employment and other forms of experience. Depending on the national system and applicable standards, recognition processes can support access to qualifications, further education, or employment opportunities.

Qualifications frameworks can also help organize and describe qualifications and learning outcomes, potentially making skills and educational achievements easier to understand within a national system.

Why this webinar matters

Lifelong learning is important because skills requirements continue to change after people complete their formal education. Workers may need additional training to move into new occupations, respond to new technologies, or improve their employment prospects.

Inclusive training systems can help reduce barriers faced by people who have had fewer opportunities to access formal education or professional development. By examining different approaches, participants can explore ways to make skills recognition and lifelong learning more accessible.

What Participants Can Gain from the BRICS South-South Knowledge Series

The programme is designed to provide knowledge exchange, technical input, and opportunities for peer learning. Its value lies in helping participants explore practices from different countries and consider how relevant approaches could be adapted to their own institutional or national contexts.

1. Discover skills development policies and practical approaches

Participants will be introduced to policies, tools, institutional innovations, and country experiences relating to skills intelligence, vocational training, and lifelong learning.

These examples can help participants broaden their understanding of how different systems respond to labour market changes and skills shortages.

2. Learn about future skills needs

The series will examine how countries identify emerging occupations and anticipate changing requirements in digital, green, and care sectors.

This knowledge can be useful for professionals who contribute to workforce planning, employment policy, skills forecasting, or the development of training programmes.

3. Explore approaches to inclusive employability

Participants will discuss ways to improve access to skills development and support people throughout their working lives. Topics include lifelong learning, recognition of prior learning, and inclusive training pathways.

These discussions may be particularly relevant to institutions working with young people, women, informal economy workers, and other groups that encounter barriers to training or employment.

4. Identify transferable good practices

The series encourages participants to compare country experiences and identify approaches that may be relevant to their own settings.

A practice that works in one country may not be directly transferable to another. Nevertheless, examining the institutional arrangements, implementation challenges, and results associated with different approaches can help participants identify lessons for adaptation.

5. Explore opportunities for institutional cooperation

The programme will encourage participants to identify possible areas for future South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

These opportunities may include sharing technical knowledge, connecting institutions with similar priorities, comparing training approaches, and exploring further cooperation between skills development organizations.

6. Connect BRICS skills priorities with wider international discussions

The knowledge series is intended to support connections between BRICS priorities, the 2026 Indian BRICS Presidency, and relevant G20 discussions and initiatives.

This provides an opportunity to consider how international policy conversations relate to practical issues in workforce development, skills recognition, training access, and lifelong learning.

The programme should not be interpreted as guaranteeing employment, a formal qualification, funding, or a specific professional outcome. Its published focus is on knowledge exchange, capacity building, and cooperation.

How the Online Programme Will Be Delivered

The BRICS South-South Knowledge Series will be delivered through three interactive online webinars between 9 and 27 November 2026. The programme will combine ILO technical inputs, country experiences, participant contributions, and facilitated peer learning.

Rather than relying solely on presentations, the format is intended to encourage participants to compare approaches, discuss implementation challenges, and identify potential solutions.

Online participation

The event is listed as an online programme, allowing participants to take part remotely rather than travel to a physical venue. The event page identifies English as the programme language.

Applicants should check the official registration information for any technical requirements, access instructions, session arrangements, or participation conditions that apply.

Technical inputs and country experiences

ILO specialists and participating institutions will contribute knowledge and experiences related to skills development. These inputs will provide context for discussion and help participants explore different policy and institutional approaches.

Facilitated peer learning

The webinars will provide opportunities for structured discussion and knowledge exchange. Participants can compare how different countries address skills intelligence, vocational training, industry cooperation, lifelong learning, and recognition of skills.

Knowledge resources and continued cooperation

The programme description indicates that the series will contribute to a shared collection of good practices, institutional contacts, and potential cooperation opportunities. Knowledge resources are intended to be made available through the South-South Meeting Point.

The series may also help connect participants with wider knowledge-sharing processes involving BRICS, the G20, and the Global South.

Institutional Background: ITCILO and the International Labour Organization

The programme is organized by the ILO Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit and the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization.

The International Labour Organization is a United Nations specialized agency focused on labour issues, workers’ rights, employment, social protection, and social dialogue. Its work includes supporting policies and programmes related to decent work, skills development, vocational training, and employment opportunities.

The International Training Centre of the ILO, based in Turin, Italy, provides learning and capacity-building services for professionals and institutions working in areas related to the ILO’s mandate.

Through training, technical expertise, and knowledge exchange, ITCILO supports the development of institutional capacity and professional skills.

The BRICS South-South Knowledge Series reflects this broader focus by bringing together people and institutions to discuss practical approaches to workforce development and international cooperation.

Official website: https://www.itcilo.org/

Supporting the 2026 Indian BRICS Presidency and BRICS-G20 Cooperation

The programme is explicitly connected to the 2026 Indian BRICS Presidency and seeks to strengthen cooperation between BRICS and G20 skills agendas.

The BRICS grouping provides a platform for participating countries to discuss shared development priorities and cooperation. Skills development is relevant to these discussions because education, employment, workforce productivity, and economic transformation are closely connected.

The knowledge series builds on priorities identified in the 2026 BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration, BRICS CONNECT, and the Indian BRICS Presidency, as described in the event announcement.

The programme also aims to connect relevant BRICS discussions with wider G20 knowledge-sharing processes. This connection can help participants consider how experiences from different countries contribute to broader conversations about skills for the future.

The emphasis on continuity across the Brazil, India, and China BRICS presidencies further highlights the intention to support ongoing knowledge exchange rather than treat the programme as an isolated event.

Application Deadline for BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2

The published application deadline is 16 November 2026.

The programme is scheduled to run from 9 to 27 November 2026, and the registration page lists a participation price of €220.

Because the application deadline falls during the programme’s scheduled dates, prospective participants should not assume that the deadline guarantees registration will remain available for every session or that late registration will be accepted. Applicants should consult the official event and registration pages for current registration conditions and confirmation of the applicable deadline.

How to register

1. Visit the official ITCILO event page: https://www.itcilo.org/events/brics-south-south-knowledge-series-2
2. Review the programme objectives, webinar topics, dates, language, participation fee, and other conditions.
3. Select the Register now link, which directs applicants to the online registration system.
4. Follow the instructions on the registration platform and provide the requested information.
5. Review the payment conditions and any other requirements before completing registration.
6. Retain the registration confirmation and check for any subsequent instructions concerning online access.

Registration link: https://oarf2.itcilo.org/DSB/E9719957/en

The event announcement lists a fee of €220. Applicants should verify the final payable amount, payment arrangements, cancellation rules, and any applicable terms directly through ITCILO’s official registration information.

Who Should Consider Participating?

The programme is relevant to professionals and institutions involved in skills development, employment policy, vocational education, labour market analysis, lifelong learning, and international development cooperation.

Potentially relevant participants include:

• Policymakers working on employment, labour market policy, education, vocational training, or workforce development.
• Representatives of skills development institutions and technical and vocational education and training providers.
• Employers’ organizations and business representatives interested in skills needs and workforce development.
• Workers’ representatives involved in employment, training, and labour policy.
• ILO specialists and practitioners working on skills, employment, and international cooperation.
• Researchers and professionals interested in labour market intelligence, occupational mapping, and skills forecasting.
• Institutions exploring partnerships and knowledge exchange through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
• Professionals involved in lifelong learning, recognition of prior learning, qualifications frameworks, and inclusive employability.

This list reflects the audiences identified in the programme description. It should not be treated as a complete formal eligibility checklist. The supplied announcement does not specify a mandatory academic qualification, a minimum number of years of professional experience, or a restricted list of eligible nationalities.

Interested applicants should check the official registration page for any additional eligibility conditions, participation requirements, or institutional nomination procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2?

It is an online capacity-building and knowledge-exchange programme organized by ITCILO and the ILO Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit. It focuses on skills development, skills mapping, lifelong learning, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

2. When will the programme take place?

The programme is scheduled for 9–27 November 2026 and consists of three interactive online webinars.

3. What is the application deadline?

The published deadline is 16 November 2026. Applicants should confirm the latest registration conditions on the official event page.

4. How much does participation cost?

The published price is €220. Participants should verify payment arrangements and any applicable conditions through the official registration system.

5. Is the programme online or in person?

The event is listed as online. Applicants should consult the registration information for details about accessing the sessions.

6. What language will be used?

The published programme language is English.

7. What topics will the webinars cover?

The three webinars will cover skills intelligence and emerging occupations; vocational education, industry partnerships, and entrepreneurship; and lifelong learning, skills recognition, and inclusive employability.

8. Is the programme only for citizens of BRICS countries?

The supplied event announcement does not state that participation is restricted to BRICS nationals. It refers to experiences from BRICS countries and the wider Global South. Applicants should verify any formal participation restrictions on the registration page.

9. Does the programme provide a scholarship or cover travel expenses?

The announcement lists a participation fee of €220 and does not state that the programme provides a scholarship or covers travel expenses. Since the event is online, physical travel is not indicated as a participation requirement. Applicants should contact ITCILO regarding any financial support arrangements not described in the published information.

10. Will participants receive a certificate?

The supplied announcement does not specify whether a certificate is awarded. Applicants who require confirmation of certification should check with the organizers before registering.

11. Where can I apply?

Visit the official event page at https://www.itcilo.org/events/brics-south-south-knowledge-series-2 and follow the registration link.

Conclusion

The BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2 offers an international online platform for professionals and institutions to explore how skills systems can respond to technological change, evolving labour markets, and the need for inclusive lifelong learning. Organized by ITCILO and the ILO Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit, the programme supports the 2026 Indian BRICS Presidency and seeks to strengthen cooperation between BRICS countries, the wider Global South, and relevant G20 skills initiatives.

Across three interactive webinars, participants will examine methods for anticipating future skills needs, approaches to strengthening vocational education and industry partnerships, and strategies for expanding access to skills recognition and lifelong learning. The programme also aims to support peer learning, the exchange of good practices, and opportunities for future institutional cooperation.

The programme is scheduled for 9–27 November 2026, the published application deadline is 16 November 2026, and the participation fee is €220. Interested professionals should review the official event details, confirm the registration conditions, and complete the application process through the official registration system.

For further information and registration, visit the official BRICS South-South Knowledge Series 2 webpage.

 

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